Yesterday, the Cubs faced the Brewers without Anthony Rizzo or Willson Contreras. Tonight, they’ll face the Brewers without Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant. Unfortunately, unlike Contreras, who was just getting a regularly scheduled game off last night, Bryant is actually out with an injury.
Sahadev Sharma has the explanation (with bonus positivity on Rizzo, which we’ll set aside for now):
Not just a rest day for Bryant. His side is sore after diving in the outfield in LA and then again a few times last night. Getting treatment and they'll see where he is after that. Rizzo woke up this morning and his back was feeling a lot better.
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) June 29, 2021
Well, okay then. I don’t think anyone came blame David Ross (or Bryant) for sitting the former MVP, given how much better he is when he’s fully healthy (everyone is better when they’re healthy, of course, but for Bryant that seems to be especially true).
Hopefully, we’ll see him back in there tomorrow, along with Rizzo, but with an off-day on Thursday, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re both held back until the weekend series against the Reds.
Oh, and if both guys are really unavailable, the Cubs are playing pretty freakin’ short-handed tonight. Their bench consists of the backup catcher Jose Lobaton (who won’t play unless he has to) Rafael Ortega, and Jake Marisnick.